An international Ohio State graduate student, Prasanna Oruganti, recently had her immigration status restored after filing a lawsuit in federal court when the Trump administration revoked her status. U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley granted a temporary restraining order in the case on April 18, leading to the restoration of her status. Oruganti, originally from India, is pursuing a PhD in agricultural engineering and also worked as a teaching assistant at Ohio State.
The case, which was dismissed on April 30, had a scheduled hearing for Thursday. Oruganti’s lawyer, Emily Brown, confirmed that her client’s status had been reinstated and clarified that her visa had not been revoked. Christopher Yates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbus declined to comment on the matter.
Oruganti’s status came into question after a routine criminal records check revealed a minor traffic violation for defective equipment in Missouri back in 2020. She had entered the U.S. in 2018 with a visa valid until December 2029 to complete her Ph.D. program at Ohio State. The issue arose when Oruganti received an email from Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs on April 8, notifying her of the revocation of her status without any communication from the U.S. State Department regarding the reasons behind the decision.
The federal government has since restored the records of numerous international students, including Oruganti, whose entries in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database were abruptly terminated. This incident sheds light on the challenges that international students face in navigating immigration regulations and underscores the importance of legal recourse to address such issues swiftly and fairly.
International students play a crucial role in the academic and cultural diversity of institutions like Ohio State University, contributing valuable perspectives and skills to various fields of study. The reinstatement of Oruganti’s immigration status not only secures her academic pursuits but also highlights the significance of upholding the rights of international students to pursue education and research in the United States.
Immigration policies and procedures continue to evolve, impacting the experiences of international students studying in the U.S. Instances like Oruganti’s case underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in visa processing and immigration enforcement to ensure that students can pursue their academic goals without unnecessary disruptions or uncertainties.
In conclusion, the restoration of Prasanna Oruganti’s immigration status serves as a reminder of the complexities international students may encounter while studying in the United States. By addressing and resolving such challenges promptly, universities and legal authorities can uphold the integrity of academic opportunities for students from around the world.